Training apparatus with adjustable travel distance

ABSTRACT

A training apparatus with adjustable travel distance includes a base frame including a pair of guide rails extending along a transverse axis, a pair of sliding units each including a pedal coupled to and slidable along one respective guide rail and a stopper located on one lateral side of the pedal, and a pair of travel distance adjusting units each including a guiding member mounted in the base frame and extending along the transverse axis and a rear position-limiting member mounted on the guiding member for stopping against the stopper of one respective pedal and position adjustable relative to the guiding member along the transverse axis to adjust the travel distance of the respective pedal.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to fitness equipment technology and more particularly, to a training apparatus with adjustable travel distance.

2. Description of the Related Art

Conventional training apparatuses (such as TW193299, TW210017, TW219499 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,659,077) commonly comprise a base frame equipped with a pair of sliding rails, a pair of pedals respectively coupled to and slidable along the sliding rails, and a damping unit mounted between the pedals and the base frame for imparting a damping resistance to the pedals.

These training apparatuses allow the user to slide the pedals alternately back and forth with the legs to mate with the damping of the damping unit, thereby achieving the purpose of ski training. However, because different users have different body sizes, different users will have different operating stroke demands. Therefore, there is a strong demand for a training apparatus that allows adjustment of the travel distance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been developed in view of the circumstances described above. It is one of the main objects of the present invention to provide a training apparatus, which allows adjustment of the travel distance to satisfy individual user demands.

To achieve this and other objects of the present invention, a training apparatus with adjustable travel distance comprises a base frame, a pair of sliding units, and a pair of travel distance adjusting units. The base frame comprises a base, and a waist abutment unit mounted at the base. The base comprises a pair of guide rails extending along a transverse axis. The sliding units each comprise a pedal coupled to and slidable along one respective guide rail. The pedal comprises a stopper located at one lateral side thereof. The travel distance adjusting units each comprise a guiding member mounted in the base and extending along the transverse axis, and a rear position-limiting member mounted on the guiding member for stopping against the stopper of the respective pedal of one respective sliding unit. The position of the rear position-limiting member is adjustable relative to the respective guiding member along the transverse axis, thereby adjusting the travel distance of the respective pedal.

The training apparatus with an adjustable travel distance in accordance with the present invention has the effects of: utilizing the feature that the position of the rear position-limiting members of the travel distance adjusting units are adjustable along the transverse axis for stopping against the stoppers of the pedals of the respective sliding units, every user can adjust the position of the rear position-limiting members according to the desired pedal travel distance.

Other advantages and features of the present invention will be fully understood by reference to the following specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference signs denote like components of structure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an oblique top elevational view of a training apparatus with adjustable travel distance in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the training apparatus with adjustable travel distance in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of a part of the training apparatus with adjustable travel distance in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic top view of a part of the training apparatus with adjustable travel distance in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line V-V of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line VI-VI of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of a part of FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is similar to FIG. 4, illustrating the travel distance of the sliding unit adjusted.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, a training apparatus with adjustable travel distance in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention is shown. The training apparatus with adjustable travel distance comprises a base frame 10, a pair of sliding unit 20, a pair of travel distance adjusting units 30, a damping unit 40, a pair of instantaneous damping adjustment units 50 and a pair of locking units 60.

The base frame 10 comprises a base 11 and a waist abutment unit 12 fixedly mounted at the base 11. The base 11 comprises a front side 111 corresponding to the waist abutment unit 12, a rear side 112 opposite to the front side 111 in a transverse axis X, a pair of guide rails 113 extending along the transverse axis X, an upright post 114 disposed adjacent to the front side 111, and two pairs of guide rollers 115 respectively pivotally mounted at opposite ends of the guide rails 113 and respectively disposed in the front side 111 and the rear side 112. The waist abutment unit 12 is mounted at a top side of the upright post 114 and can include pads, sensors, or handles for abutting against the user. The base 11 further comprises a plurality of cover plates 116 respectively mounted at two opposite sides of the guide rails 113 to shield the travel distance adjusting units 30.

Referring also to FIG. 5, the sliding units 20 each comprise a pedal 21 coupled to and slidable along one respective guide rail 113, e.g., rollers and track and similar devices, and a running belt 22 extending around one respective pair of guide rollers 115 of the base 11 in the transverse axis X and connected to the pedal 21. The pedal 21 comprises a front end portion 211, an opposing rear end portion 212, and a stopper 213 protruded from one lateral side thereof between the front end portion 211 and the rear end portion 212. The running belt 22 of each sliding unit 20 is wound round one respective pair of guide rollers 115, comprising a first end 221 connected to the front end portion 211 of the respective pedal 21, and an opposing second end 222 connected to the rear end portion 212 of the respective pedal 21. The pedal 21 can also include a foot strap 24 or other attachment device for securing the foot to the pedal.

Referring also to FIG. 6, the travel distance adjusting units 30 each comprise a guiding member 31 mounted in the base 11 and extending along the transverse axis X, a rear position-limiting member 32 mounted on the guiding member 31 and adjustable in the transverse axis X, a front position-limiting member 33 affixed to the base 11 and disposed at one side relative to the guiding member 31, and a driving member 34 mounted on the base 11 and adapted for rotating the guiding member 31. In the present embodiment, the guiding members 31 of the travel distance adjusting units 30 are lead screws; the rear position-limiting members 32 of the travel distance adjusting units 30 are adapted for stopping against the stoppers 213 of the respective pedals 21; the front position-limiting members 33 of the travel distance adjusting units 30 are adapted for stopping against the stoppers 213 of the respective pedals 21, e.g., plates or stoppers or the like; the driving members 34 of the travel distance adjusting units 30 are servo motors operable to move the respective rear position-limiting members 32 along the respective guiding members 31 in the transverse axis X, e.g., by turning the guiding members 31.

The damping unit 40 is mounted in the base frame 10 and connected to the running belts 22 to provide a damping resistance to the pedals 21 in the transverse axis X. Further, the damping unit 40 comprises a rotary shaft 41 pivotally mounted at the front side 111 of the base 11, a damping wheel 42 fixedly mounted on the rotary shaft 41, a friction member 43 mounted at the base 11 for friction against the damping wheel 42 to produce a friction resistance, e.g., a friction pad, electromagnetic dampers, or the like, a pair of rotary wheels 44 pivotally mounted at the base 11 at two opposite lateral sides relative to the damping wheel 42, and a pair of axle bushes 45 arranged in a coaxial relationship with the rotary wheels 44. Through the axle bushes 45, the running belts 22 can stop the respective rotary wheels 44 from rotation. In the present embodiment, the axle bushes 45 are one-way axle bearings respectively mounted in the respective guide rollers 115 for allowing the pedals 21 to rotate the respective rotary wheels 44 in a driving direction F and prohibiting the pedals 21 from rotating the respective rotary wheels 44 in a reversed return direction R. The driving direction F extends from the front side 111 toward the rear side 112. The return direction R extends from the rear side 112 toward the front side 111.

The instantaneous damping adjustment units 50 each comprise a first sensors 51 (e.g., hall sensors) positionable relative to the base 11, and a second sensors 52 mounted on one respective pedal 21. When the first sensor 51 is disposed near one respective rear position-limiting member 32 to face toward the associated second sensor 52, a control signal is produced to drive the respective friction member 43 into heavy abutment against the damping wheel 42, generating an instantaneously increased damping resistance. In the present preferred embodiment, the first sensors 51 are respectively mounted on the rear position-limiting members 32; the second sensors 52 are respectively mounted on the pedals 21 between the respective stoppers 213 and the respective rear end portions 212; the friction members 43 are configured to impart instantaneous electromagnetic damping to the damping wheel 42.

Referring also to FIG. 7, the locking units 60 are adapted to lock the respective pedals 21 to the base 11, each comprising a locating hole 61 located on one respective guide rail 113 of the base 11, a lock hole 62 located on the pedal 21 of one respective sliding unit 20, and a lock pin 63 detachably insertable into the locating hole 61 and lock hole 62 to lock the respective pedal 21 to the base 11. When using the training apparatus for normal operation, remove the lock pins 63 from the respective locating holes 61 and the respective lock hole 62 to unlock the respective pedals 21 from the base 11.

Referring to FIGS. 1-5 again, after installation of the training apparatus, the user can step on the pedals 21 of the sliding units 20 respectively, and then apply a pressure to the pedals 21 of the sliding units 20 alternately back and forth using his/her legs. When forcing the pedal 21 of one sliding unit 20 to slide along the respective guide rail 113 in the driving direction F, the respective running belt 22 is forced to rotate the respective guide rollers 114. Subject to the effect that the axle bushes 45 can simply drive the respective rotary wheels 44 to rotate in one direction, the damping wheels 42 will be forced against the friction member 43 to generate a damping resistance only when each pedal 21 is moved by the user in the driving direction F, achieving the purpose of training. On the contrary, when each pedal 21 is moved by the user in the return direction R, the respective guide rollers 115 run idle relative to the respective rotary wheel 44.

During the aforesaid operation, when the stopper 213 of one pedal 21 touches the respective rear position-limiting member 32, the respective pedal 21 reaches the rear limit position; when the stopper 213 of one pedal 21 touches the respective front position-limiting member 33, the respective pedal 21 reaches the front limit position.

During the aforesaid operation, subject to the feature that the second sensors 52 are respectively mounted between the respective stoppers 213 and the respective rear end portions 212, when the second sensor 52 faces toward the respective first sensor 51 before the respective stopper 213 touching the respective rear position-limiting member 32, a control signal is generated to drive the respective friction member 43 into heavy abutment against the damping wheel 42, generating an instantaneously increased damping resistance that buffers the respective pedal 21, avoiding sudden impact between the stopper 213 and the respective rear position-limiting member 32.

Further, as illustrated in FIG. 4 and FIG. 8, before the operation, the user can operate the travel distance adjusting unit 30 according to personal operational needs, i.e., starting up the driving members 34 to rotate the guiding members 31. At this time, the rear position-limiting members 32 will be caused to move along the respective guiding members 31 in the direction of the transverse axis X to adjust the distance between the respective rear position-limiting members 32 and the respective front position-limiting members 33, achieving adjustment of the travel distance.

Further, when plugging the lock pin 63 of one locking unit 60 into the respective lock hole 62 and the respective locating hole 61, the respective pedal 21 is locked to the respective guide rail 113. At this time, only one sliding unit 20 can be operated and moved along the respective guide rail 113 for training one single leg.

It's worth mentioning that the running belts 22 of the sliding units 20 are fastened with the respective pedals 21 in a detachable manner, e.g., bolt, clip, etc., facilitating repair and replacement.

In conclusion, the training apparatus with adjustable travel distance not only can achieve the purpose of adjusting the travel distance, but also allows the user to perform single-leg training according to personal needs and provides a buffering effect for impact protection, and thus, the training apparatus with adjustable travel distance really can achieve the purpose of the invention.

Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A training apparatus, comprising: a base frame comprising a base and a waist abutment unit mounted at said base, said base comprising a pair of guide rails extending along a transverse axis; a pair of sliding units each comprising a pedal coupled to and slidable along one respective said guide rail, said pedal comprising a stopper located at one lateral side thereof; and a pair of travel distance adjusting units each comprising a guiding member mounted in said base and extending along said transverse axis and a rear position-limiting member mounted on said guiding member and position adjustable relative to said guiding member along said transverse axis for stopping against the said stopper of one respective said pedal.
 2. The training apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said guiding members of said travel distance adjusting units are lead screws; each said travel distance adjusting unit further comprises a driving member mounted at said base and adapted for rotating the associated said guiding member to cause movement of the associated said rear position-limiting member along said transverse axis relative to the associated said guiding member.
 3. The training apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein each said sliding unit further comprises a running belt connected to the associated said pedal and movably mounted around said base; said training apparatus further comprises a damping unit mounted at said base frame and connected to the said running belts of said sliding units and adapted for imparting a damping resistance to said pedals of said sliding units in the direction of said transverse axis.
 4. The training apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said damping unit comprises a rotary shaft pivotally mounted at said base, a damping wheel fixedly mounted on said rotary shaft, a friction member mounted at said base and adapted for abutting against said damping wheel to produce a damping resistance, two rotary wheels pivotally mounted at said base at two opposite lateral sides relative to said damping wheel and two axle bushes arranged in a coaxial relationship with said rotary wheels for enabling said running belts of said sliding units to stop the respective said rotary wheels from rotation.
 5. The training apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said axle bushes of said damping unit are one-way axle bearings adapted for allowing said pedals of said sliding units to rotate the respective said rotary wheels in a driving direction and prohibiting said pedals of said sliding units from rotating the respective said rotary wheels in a reversed return direction.
 6. The training apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein said base of said base frame comprises a front side corresponding to said waist abutment unit, and a rear side opposite to said front side; said driving direction extends from said front side of said base toward said rear side; said return direction extends from the said rear side of said base toward said front side.
 7. The training apparatus as claimed in claim 4, further comprising a pair of instantaneous damping adjustment units, each said instantaneous damping adjustment unit comprising a first sensor positionable relative to said base and a second sensor mounted on the said pedal of one respective said sliding unit, wherein moving said first sensor toward said rear position-limiting member of one respective travel distance adjusting unit to face toward the associated said second sensor causes generation of a control signal that drives the respective said friction member into heavy abutment against the said damping wheel to generate an instantaneously increased damping resistance.
 8. The training apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said first sensors of said instantaneous damping adjustment units are respectively mounted on said rear position-limiting members of said travel distance adjusting units; said pedal of each said sliding unit comprises a front end portion and an opposing rear end portion; said stopper of the said pedal of each said sliding unit is protruded from one lateral side of the respective said pedal between the said front end portion and rear end portion of the said pedal of the respective said sliding unit.
 9. The training apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein each said travel distance adjusting unit further comprises a front position-limiting member fixedly mounted at said base at one lateral side relative to the respective guiding member and adapted for stopping against the said stopper of the said pedal of the respective said sliding unit.
 10. The training apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a pair of locking units adapted for locking said pedals of the respective said sliding unit to said base, each said locking unit comprising a locating hole located on said base, a lock hole located on said pedal of one respective said sliding unit, and a lock pin detachably insertable into said locating hole and said lock hole to lock the respective said pedal to said base. 